Co-operation between National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and governments in the reuniting of dispersed families

31-12-1986 Article, International Review of the Red Cross, No. 256

25th International Conference of the Red Cross, Geneva, 23 to 31 October 1986, Resolution 15

The Twenty-fifth International Conference of the Red Cross,

considering that, as a result of continuing international and non-international armed conflicts and political tension, a large number of persons have been separated from their families,

recalling and reaf,firming Resolutions XX, XX and XIX respectively o the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth International Conferences of the Red Cross,

aware that not all of the dispersed families for whom the aforementioned resolutions were intended to afford assistance have yet been reunited in accordance with their wishes,

considering that there are also many people who, despite possessing an entry permit, are denied the right to emigrate to the country of their choice for purposes of family reunification,

conscious of the large number of refugees and deportees in many parts of the world and of the great.suffering deriving from the separation of persons from their countries and families for reasons no longer always attributable to the Second World War or its aftermath as well as from uncertainty concerning the fate of family members,

expressing its gratitude to governments, the ICRC and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the successful co-operation that has hitherto taken place,

1. reaffirms the constant willingness of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to co-operate in humanitarian action, in reuniting members of dispersed families, in exchanging information regarding families and in facilitating the search for missing persons,

2. calls upon all governments to support the efforts of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies dealing with the problems of conducting searches and reuniting families,

3. requests governments to treat in a favourable and humanitarian manner the applications of persons who wish to leave the country and to be reunited with members of their families in a receiving State, which has declared its willingness to accept them, to give due and sympathetic consideration to such applications and to decide on them swiftly and in a humanitarian spirit, ensuring that no application receives unfair or discriminatory treatment,

4. urges the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to act as neutral intermediaries with their respective governmen ts with a view to helping to solve these humanitarian problems,

5. recommends that the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies intensify their contacts and discussions among themselves and with the ICRC with a view to rendering mutual assistance in the reuniting of dispersed families, thereby helping to foster understanding and peace.